After a long weekend of homework and assignments, the last thing I wanted for myself was a call into the headmaster's office. Especially first thing in the morning, I didn't even have time to grab breakfast. Staring at the door, I contemplate even going in. Typically, a call to the headmaster's office this early only means one thing. Expulsion from the school, whether that's from the cram school or regular is unknown. Raising my hand, I begin to knock on the door, but before my hand makes contact the door swings open and Headmaster Mephisto ushers me inside.
"Welcome, welcome. Please have a seat." he gestures in
I make my way over to one of the chairs and sit down adjusting my bag so I can sit comfortably while I await the bad news.
"Don't worry, you're not getting expelled and you're not in any sort of trouble so you can relax."
My shoulders drop as the muscles in my face relax. I let out a slow controlled breath willing the rest of my body to follow suit.
"So why else would I be called here?" I ask in slight relief.
"Well, as a student at the cram school you are aware of the year-end project?" He continues when I nod. "Your class and another both have an odd number of students, rather than having two groups of three since it would be an unfair advantage. It was decided to move one student. So, you'll be partnered with Rin Okumura."
I can visibly feel the shock spreading across my face.
"You're partnering me up? With Rin? Blue flames? Son of Satan? Are we entirely sure this is the best idea? He seems to be a wild card."
"Which is why we are sure partnering him with you is a good idea. Between your softer personality, your performance reviews state that you're levelheaded, quick to act, and work well under pressure. Partner that with your test scores we have no doubt that you'll pass and hopefully you can tone down Rin's... eccentric style of exorcism."
"No offence to Rin, I've heard all about him. As good of an exorcist as he is with the flames and all he doesn't listen to anyone except his brother and that's rare. I'm not ready to risk my grade because you think it will change him." I say as I stand up walking towards the door.
"The only choice you have in the matter is to work with Rin or take a zero on the whole project."
I freeze at the door numbers going through my head as I calculate if I could take the zero and still pass. Realistically I could but anyone looking at my transcript would no doubt question the sudden drop in my otherwise steady grades. I chew on my bottom lip contemplating if it's worth explaining for the rest of my life. On the other hand, it's only three months that I would have to work with him. I let out a long sigh before finally asking "When does the switch begin?"
"Immediately." By the tone of his voice, I can tell he has a smirk on his face.
I don't bother with a response pushing the door open. I leave the office and head towards my first class. All through my regular classes I find it increasingly hard to focus as my mind continually drifts off to that stupid project and how I am going to be doing so much extra work to get a halfway decent grade on the thing. I don't even know what the project is yet, so I have no idea what I am walking into. Never mind the fact I'm working with Rin Okumura. At least the headmaster gave me enough warning to tell me I was working with Rin rather than telling me I am going to switch classes and then finding out I was working with Rin. I might have opted for the zero if that had happened.
Before starting cram school, I stop in the cafeteria desperately needing a Pick Me Up. While I wait in line and people watch. I can't explain it but something about watching other people just simply exist is calming. The corners of my mouth turn up into a small smile and it stays there while the line moves and I can finally order my drink. I pay while taking that first sip enjoying the feeling of the hot liquid running down my throat. This is exactly what I needed. With my drink in hand I make my way to my new class. I'm already mad for the switch. It makes it even worse that I don't really know anyone in the class. Of course I've heard of them. Everyone has, but I don't know anything about them. I hurry to class hoping to be the first person there so hopefully there will be less attention on me.
Thankfully there is only one other student in the class and she doesn't even look up at me as I enter. I grab a seat at the back of the class grabbing supplies out of my bag. Slowly my new classmates begin coming into class joking with each other thankfully not noticing me in the back. Eventually Yukio makes his way into the classroom, setting his bag on the desk.
"Good morning class. As you know we have an end-of-year project that is worth a good portion of your grade. For this project you will be graded on three different components. First your ability to identify the demon you are fighting. Second, your ability to defeat the demon you are fighting, with the proper techniques. Thirdly, your ability to work with someone who you don't typically work with."
Yukio briefly makes eye contact with me before continuing.
"This project is designed to make you think. To make you change your fighting styles to complement your partners. As a real-life exorcist you may find yourself working with someone you've never met who has a fighting style you would never use. And there will be times when charging headfirst without considering your enemy, will affect you and anyone else around you."
While he says that last part, he stares directly at Rin which causes Rin to mutter under his breath.
The rest of the class snickers and throws some jokes towards Rin which only makes him madder. He begins shouting at everyone.
"Oh, please calm down, it's not like they were saying anything that isn't true." The words leave my mouth before I even register the fact that I'm talking.
"Who the hell said that!" Rin looks around wildly, his eyes meeting mine. He's already mad so there goes the whole trying to be nice until we get a good grade.
I want to say something, but Yukio beats me to it.
"Calm down Rin, she might be the only reason you pass this class."
"And what the hell is that supposed to mean?" He turns back to Yukio. "I could easily defeat any demon that comes my way."
Pinching the bridge of his nose Yukio replies. "Did you not listen to a word I just said? You are being tested on how you work with others as well as your ability to identify the demon. Not just the ability to defeat the demon."
"What and you're saying I can't do that?"
"Rin I'm your teacher I see all your test scores as well as performance scores and you need all the help you can get. Mika's test scores are right next to Bon's and her performance scores are just below mine. So, I suggest you be nice and listen to what she says. As for the rest of you, these are your new partners."
Yukio writes on the board. Rin & Mika, Bon & Shiemi, Shima & Kamiki, Konekomaru & Takara.
The rest of the class divides into pairs and Rin comes to sit next to me with the project papers in hand. He slides them over to me and I look over them.
"So, what kind of exorcist are you exactly?" He asks me.
"I'm a dual exorcist;I'm a tamer and doctor, but I also know enough of each that I could easily switch if I wanted."
"Why those two then?"
"Well, tamers aren't really one that you can pick, if you have the ability to summon a familiar you get trained as a tamer. As for the doctor part, I come from a family in the medical world who use their abilities as health professionals and their capabilities as an exorcist to help people."
When I look over, he has a puzzled look on his face, so I continue.
"When lower-level demons possess other people or attach themselves they can be seen as crazy and therefore sent to mental hospitals, well my family owns a very large mental hospital that uses our abilities as exorcists to help those we think are possessed by demons to be 'healed' as you would say and then for those who aren't possessed that are 'unhealable' they either stay there to learn how to cope or they are moved to another facility." I explained.
He still looks confused but doesn't say anything.
"Think of it this way. Your father was a priest right? People would regularly come to him for exorcisms from things others couldn't see? So think of that but in a more hospital setting." I explain.
"Oh okay." he says not looking totally convinced but seemingly like he has more of a vague understanding.
Before I could say anything else Yukio states class is beginning. Yukio starts telling the finer details of the project. One look at Rin tells me he's not paying attention which leads me to let out a sigh while I take extra notes. Yukio explains that there will be two grading scales for this. One on how well you work together and the other on how well you work alone.
We also are graded individually rather than as a team which is even better seeing as no matter what, Rin's actions or score will not affect mine. Finally, after what feels like an hour we move onto the actual lesson. During class it's between Bon, Konekomaru, and I fighting to be the first to answer.
"Well, would you look at that Konekomaru, you have some actual competition in this class." Bon says while turning to look back at me.
"Isn't Anti-Demon Pharmacology one of the easiest classes here? How does anyone find it hard?" I ask.
"Hey, not everyone is good at sitting at a desk and memorizing stuff." Rin says
"I guess that explains why you didn't want to be an Aria."
"You know you're really starting to piss me off. Some people are better at real life stuff rather than this school bullshit."
I turn in the chair to face Rin with a smirk playing on my lips.
"All this school bullshit is what's needed for real life stuff. Tell me, can you heal others with those blue flames? Can you tell me which plants are safe to eat when you're stranded? Can you correctly pick the plant needed to help prevent infection from a cut? No? I didn't think so. Not all your problems can be solved by swinging your sword and flaming out. Just because some of use aren't as strong as you are physically and maybe we aren't able to exorcise demons quite as fast as you, but believe me when I say this, some of us are better exorcists because we take the time to study and gather information before we charge head first, swords swinging. As we care about the people around and we don't want them getting hurt. Thankfully no one has been seriously hurt because of you, but I can promise if you don't start thinking with your head someone you care about will get hurt."
The bell rings and I shove my books into my bag. I get up fast with my bag in my hand. I hear the chair hit the floor, but I don't care as I make it out the door. I'm not sure why I'm mad. I know being an exorcist means my life is on the line, but being partnered with Rin feels like my chances of being physically harmed have gone up. I feel like I just got over the frustration of being together for this project and here I am, all upset again. Ugh whatever, hopefully I'll get over it.